UPDATE: Private Racetrack Development – Still Quiet, But Far From Gone

by | Jul 31, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Unlock the Secrets of Sustainable Living

Here's Where Things Stand with ECMC

Learn More
Horses in a pasture in alaqua overlooking a pond near where the defuniak private racetrack is proposed.

Written By Suzanne Buckley

Amy Meacham

Here’s where things stand with the proposed Emerald Coast Motor Club (ECMC) racetrack development in Walton County—and why we need to stay alert.
The developer has not submitted anything new to Walton County Planning & Zoning in months, according to the latest update from staff. But that doesn’t mean this project is off the table.
💡 What’s likely happening? The developer and his team are quietly working behind the scenes to complete all the items required before the next step in the Major Development Plan Review process. This is the same status as January—but it’s important to understand that no news does not mean this project is going away.
Meanwhile, the ECMC brand continues to expand globally. Their racecars are now competing at tracks around the world, all heavily branded with “Emerald Coast Motor Club”—promoting a racetrack that has not yet been approved here in Walton County. Make no mistake: this is a calculated marketing effort, and it signals they are still fully invested in making this project happen. The club’s recent flurry of Facebook posts also suggests things may be heating up.
🔍 WHERE THE PROJECT STANDS IN THE COUNTY PROCESS:
The developer still must complete several major steps before it reaches a public hearing:
1️⃣ Technical Review Committee (TRC): County experts will review the developer’s detailed plans—stormwater, traffic, environmental impact, etc.—for code compliance.
2️⃣ Planning Commission: After TRC approval, the proposal will go to the Planning Commission for public discussion and recommendation.
3️⃣ Board of County Commissioners (BCC): The final decision lies with the BCC after public input and commission review.
WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING TO PREPARE:
While the developer has been marketing ECMC across the globe, we’ve been working locally to make sure our community is ready when this comes back up. Our efforts include:
  • Meeting with county commissioners, planning staff, and key stakeholders throughout Walton County
  • Educating the public through social media, neighborhood conversations, and community events
  • Building support across communities that will be impacted—because this isn’t just about one neighborhood, it’s about the future of Walton County
We are organized. We are paying attention. And we will be ready when the racetrack resurfaces in the county approval process.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
  • The project has not been approved
  • No public hearings are scheduled—yet
  • The developer is still actively investing in the project and promoting it globally
STAY ALERT. STAY ENGAGED.
We’ll continue tracking every step and will alert you the moment this project appears on a Planning agenda.
In the meantime, keep the pressure on. Talk to your neighbors. Stay informed. And continue supporting other community-led efforts—like the opposition to the East Nursery Road subdivision, another short-sighted project that threatens our Bay and our quality of life.